Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan has slammed the police for questioning businessperson Albert Tei's legal counsel about the content of a conversation between the latter and his client.
This came after the counsel, Mahajoth Singh, was summoned to the Sepang district police headquarters today, where an investigating officer recorded his statement about Nov 28's MACC raid on Tei's residence.
According to Rajesh, the police had asked Mahajoth (above, right) some 10 questions during the session, including to reveal what he discussed with Tei during a phone call on the day of the raid.
He criticised the action as a form of harassment and said it was unacceptable for the police to seek such information from a lawyer.
"All lawyers are bound by Section 126 of the Evidence Act, which is solicitor-client privilege, and solicitor-client privilege is sacrosanct,” said Rajesh, who acted as Mahajoth's counsel during the questioning.
"It cannot be breached under any circumstances whatsoever. So, my personal view is that what the Royal Malaysia Police is doing is completely unacceptable.
"The police cannot bring in lawyers and ask them to breach Section 126 by asking them questions on what the discussions were between the lawyer and the client,” he added.
He said Mahajoth had turned down the request to reveal the content of his conversation with Tei, citing Section 126 of the Evidence Act.
The lawyer also called upon the Malaysian Bar to issue a strong statement against the police for harassing lawyers for doing their job.
It was reported that police have opened an inquiry paper to investigate the manner of the MACC raid on Tei's residence in Puchong, Selangor.
This came after Tei's wife, Lee Pei Rie, lodged a police report on Nov 28, claiming that the raiding party had barged into their home through the main door before several of them put handcuffs on Tei.
One of them also allegedly pointed a gun at Tei from a distance. - Mkini
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